Murray Wood: Paying for junk pretentiously passed off as public art
As people debate Saskatoon spending $300,000 on plastic rocks, Murray Wood notes that the great unwashed aren't really s...
Saskatoon now has so many run clubs, you can pretty much find a community jaunt to clock some mileage with, any day of the week.
It wasn’t that long ago, though, that Brian Michasiw – owner of Brainsport in Saskatoon since opening in 1991 – recalled running the main, consistent running group in the city.
Read more:
- What does it take? Runners share stories, advice ahead of Sunday’s Saskatchewan Marathon
- Meet the athlete running 1,600 km across Saskatchewan in 30 days
- Snow or shine: Sask. runners undaunted by ever-changing conditions
Michasiw started running himself when he was just 14. Now in his 50s, he’s spent decades involved with running events, clinics and clubs.
“For the first few decades, it was a pretty, like, male and I’ll say white-dominated sport or activity, and now, we see all different types of people from all walks of life and all shapes and sizes,” Michasiw said.
He often heard from people that they wanted to buy a pair of running shoes, with the caveat that they weren’t a “professional runner.”
Michasiw has always pushed back at that perception.
“Running is something that you don’t have to look a certain way. You don’t have to be a certain way,” he said. “I think that’s largely where we’re at now, and I think it’s beautiful and amazing.”
For close to three decades, Michasiw ran a run club that runners in the community recall being the mainstay place to run with others in the city. Michasiw said they ran that club every Wednesday at 6 p.m., “until we couldn’t have a run club,” because of the COVID-19 shutdowns in March 2020.
He said they tried to reopen after the pandemic, but couldn’t maintain both the business and the club.
“Then, what we saw is a bunch of other run clubs sprouted up, and so what we’ve tried to do is support those run clubs by marketing some demo nights with them,” Michasiw said.
Try Athlete Social Club runners outside Brainsport after a demo night in June 2026, where the group was allowed to try on different running shoes. (try_athletesocialclub/Instagram)
“I never expected Saskatoon would have so many opportunities for the community.”
Now 35 years into running his business, Michasiw said he’s busier than he ever dreamed.
“I feel so lucky that I chose or the running industry chose me. I love running shoes. I love talking about running. I love running, and I just feel so lucky to be in in an industry that’s just thriving right now.”
Michasiw said he misses running his group some days. Still heavily involved in the running community, he even met his wife at a run club.
“I do really appreciate the people who have stepped up in the community to lead a run group,” he said. “And I know it sounds really easy, like you just go for a run, but … for the organizers, there is a lot of work that goes into it.”
Run clubs are continuing to emphasize community and are going beyond simple group runs. Organized activities like trail-cleaning days and group picnics with games have been organized by various run clubs in the city just this summer. The groups often utilize social media to promote weekly runs, extra gatherings, special events, community needs and to share group photos each week.
“There’s sort of amazing power or energy that’s created when you’re running with a group, and you know, they’ll share things that you might not know,” Michasiw said. “You’re kind of, like, suffering together, and it … really builds relationships in a way that you know other things don’t do.”
With running so popular in 2026, here’s a list of many of the free run clubs in the city – most welcoming to all ages, skill levels and allowing for running and walking as desired.
Be Well Run Club
When: Sundays at 9 a.m.
Where: Be Well Studios (102 20th St West)
Distance: 30 minutes
Bear With Me Running
When: Sundays at 9 a.m.
Where: Rotary Park
Distance: 3-5 km
EBC Running
When: Mondays at 6 p.m., year-round
Where: Parking lot near Rotary Park (225 Saskatchewan Crescent East)
Distance: 34 minutes
GirlsFitSask (Girls run and fitness club)
When: Often weekends at 10 or 11 a.m.
Where: Various locations, including Rotary Park, Victoria Park, and Oakberry – weekly dates and locations posted online via social media
Distance: Usually 2-5 km
Run clubs have been springing up across Saskatoon over the past couple of years, prompting more people try lacing up and running with a group in the Bridge City. (yxe_joggers_lagers/Instagram)
Joggers and Lagers
When: Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., year-round
Where: High Key Brewing (102 23 St East)
Distance: 5 and 8 km routes, with trail options
Mendel Riverbank Parkrun
When: Saturdays at 9 a.m.
Where: Meewasin Trail, by the Wonderhub (950 Spadina Crescent East)
Distance: 5 km (timed)
Note: One-time online registration is encouraged.
OnTrack Run Club
When: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Where: Craven Sport Services Clinic
Distance: 1 hour (run and walk groups with shorter and longer intervals)
OTR (On The Run) Run Club
When: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.
Where: Five Corners Cafe, on Broadway
Distance: 6-8 km (various workouts and run-types)
Rise Run Club
When: Thursdays at 6 p.m.
Where: Diefenbaker Park
Distance: 5 km
Saskatoon Millennial Thursday Night Run
When: Thursdays at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Cocktail (703 Broadway Ave)
Distance: 3 and 5 km
SOTS Fired (Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan)
When: Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. and Sundays at 9:15 a.m., year-round
Where: Saturdays at Meewasin Trail, by the Wonderhub (950 Spadina Crescent East); Sundays at D’Lish by Tish (702 14 St East)
Distance: 10-or-more km (Sat); light shakeout run (Sun)
Supp World Run Club
When: Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Supplement World Saskatoon (50-510 Lauriston Street)
Distance: 4 km
The Local Run Club
When: Sundays at 10 a.m.
Where: Rotary Park
Distance: 5 km
Thursday Morning Run Group
When: Thursdays at 9 a.m.
Where: Rotary Park
Distance: 5-6 km
Try-Athlete Social Run Club
When: Mondays at 5:30 p.m., year-round
Where: City Perks Coffeehouse (801 7 Ave North)
Distance: 5 km
USask Run Club
When: Various days at various times, often Sundays at 10 a.m. or 6:30 p.m. – dates posted online via social media
Where: Usask Community Centre, across from Bookstore (Marquis 104)
Distance: 5 and 10 km routes
YXE Run Club
When: Wednesdays at 6 p.m., year-round
Where: Running Room (601 Eighth Street)
Distance: 5-8 km
YXE Slow AF Run Club
When: Wednesdays at 6:15 p.m.
Where: Rotary Park (McPherson and Sask Crescent)
Distance: 30 minute run or walk
